Optimizing the dispersion process of carbon black pigment to minimise agglomeration in paint at Global company limited.

Abstract

A model equation called a population balance equation is adopted to quantify the dispersion process of pigments in the vehicle basing on the agglomerate particle size distribution. Dispersion time of a roll mill is the parameter under optimization. Contained in this report is the optimization of the dispersion process of paint manufacture to reduce agglomeration of pigments. The adopted model equation was a population balance equation which correlates the dispersion in terms of the agglomerate particle size distribution. There are equations relating the roll mill operating variables with power consumption and the mill base properties of which viscosity is included. However, the four roll mill used at GCU is one whose parameters a set by the original mill design are constant such as roll speed, roll speed ratio, roll dimensions, roll distance, and pressure force applied between rolls. This prompted optimization of the milling time or dispersion time. The population balance equation, being a coupled ordinary differential equation, was solved using a numerical method (Euler method).